Barns delaktighet och inflytande i förskolan relaterat till barngruppens storlek

Abstract

Our purpose of this study was to study preschool teachers' perceptions of children's participation and influence in relation to group sizes in preschool. We conducted a qualitative study where we interviewed ten preschool teachers to find their views on group sizes in their schools. We saw early in the study that the preschool teachers saw participation and influence as two equivalent concepts. They argue that without the participation one cannot have influence and without influence one cannot get participation. Study results showed that children's opportunity to participate democratically in preschool was affected in large groups, as well as preschool teachers working methods and approach is of great importance. An example of this is that the children’s sense of perspective is not fully fulfilled when the teachers don’t have time for conversation and communication. Likewise, it emerged that values in the preschool is an important aspect for children to be given the opportunity to participate and influence, since good values leads to good educational activities. The teachers felt that there were difficult to sustain good values in large groups of children.